Gerard Riconda , LCSW

Gerard Riconda earned his Master of Social Work from Fordham University School of Social Services, where he gained early experience working with families and children in the foster care system. During his training he also served briefly as a medical social worker in a rehabilitation hospital, supporting clients such as amputees and people recovering from stroke and head injury.

Over the course of his career he has worked extensively with hard-to-reach clients and people presenting a wide range of diagnoses, building a depth of clinical experience across challenging situations. He is comfortable working with all client populations and places a strong emphasis on empathy as a foundation for therapeutic work. Gerard uses a range of clinical approaches and believes that no single method fits every person. He partners with clients to identify the best strategies for their needs, combining clinical tools with an understanding of each person’s unique circumstances.

Gerard holds the credential LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker and indicates specialized training and licensure to provide clinical social work services in New York.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Gerard draws from evidence-informed approaches to tailor work to each person’s needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and take committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings arise - it is often useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and related concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the therapist's empathic presence and collaborative partnership, creating a space where a person’s experiences are heard and the pace of change is set by the client.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Gerard collaborates with clients to explore which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting techniques as progress unfolds and circumstances change. This collaborative stance helps ensure treatment remains relevant and practical.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage with licensed professionals. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction from home, phone sessions can be easier to schedule, and live chat or text-based messaging provide ongoing support between sessions. These options make it simpler to access care around work, family, and daily responsibilities while maintaining continuity with a single therapist.